Don't blink. Actually, blink all you want—you won't catch it anyway.

[slipjig3]

I stayed up wayyyy too late watching Ricky Jay videos on YouTube. For those unaware, Ricky Jay is likely the greatest sleight of hand artist alive, no exceptions. What I love about him is not only his elegance and skill, which are unmatched, but also just listening to him speak. In addition to being a magician, he's also a voracious and knowledgeable historian of magic and other performance arts—if you've seen any of his books like Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women, you know what I'm talking about here—and he layers his magic with history, folklore, back-stories and worlds more, all in language you could eat with a spoon.

So. Somebody finally YouTube-posted the bits and pieces of Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants, his Mamet-directed Off-Broadway show that HBO aired as a special several years ago. This is the one that I videotaped, then wore down to a nub, with no way of replacing it. Yay, Internets!

Here's my favorite sections from that special, all of which I highly recommend:
Four Queens, Three Ways
Max Malini's Trick
The History Lesson

I also found some things of his that I'd never seen before, including this one that I want to share. Like I said, half of his appeal is his speaking voice, but here, he doesn't speak a word—and still leaves me utterly floored. Just watch.

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Comments

[theloriest.livejournal.com]

Jesus! That's freaking amazing!

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

Yup. That's been my reaction for the decade I've been watching him.

[curt-holman.livejournal.com]

What a coincidence -- I was just writing a review of David Mamet's new movie 'Redbelt,' which features Jay in a small role -- and was thinking I should look up his stuff on-line.

The embedded clip isn't working for me, BTW.

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

Argh. I'd need to look up the URL again. Actually, doing a search for "Ricky Jay" brings it up as one of the first couple of hits, if you're willing.

[tnjade.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize that he was a sleight-of-hand master; I only remember seeing him in Deadwood!

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

Ohh, yes; he's been performing magic since the 70's. It's only been in the last 15 years or so that he's made a nice side career of acting; Paul Thomas Anderson and David Mamet use him constantly.

[tidesong.livejournal.com]

Oh so that's where I've seen him before! Thank you!

[tnjade.livejournal.com]

Wu no cocksucka!!

[tidesong.livejournal.com]

SAN FRANCISCO COCKSUCKA!

I <3 magicians.....

[rubian77.livejournal.com]

(a further measure of geek-itude)

I once wanted to be a magician when I grew up. I realized I couldn't....I can't get sleight of hand down as well as it needs to be (though I can still do a passable French drop when necessary), and there's no way I could do full-body magic with my physique!

When I was about 10 or 11, I got to help a magician on stage -- it was such a kick! I still love watching magic. Thanks for the video links!

Re: I <3 magicians.....

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

No kidding? We'll have to swap tricks sometime. I was pursuing the slight of hand thing for quite a while, until I realized that I didn't really have the discipline to learn the art the way I wanted. Still, I can do a few decent effects, sorta.

Re: I <3 magicians.....

[rubian77.livejournal.com]

Oy, I haven't done magic in years...I think all the tricks I've learned I've forgotten. I know what you mean about not having the discipline!!

What!!!

[domani.livejournal.com]

hey adam its chris, domani's husband holy shit! thats awesome. i have kind of been on this magic kick lately and this is great...talk to you soon.

Re: What!!!

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

*grin* Glad you liked! (You might be interested in his website as well.)

[mendoza.livejournal.com]

I've read articles about Ricky Jay, but never actually managed to see him do his amazing thing. That just made my day :) wow...

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

So glad I could introduce you! I'm finally getting over my obsession with him. Sorta.

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

That was neat!
Is there any sort of competition for people possessing this skill?

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there are; the International Brotherhood of Magicians does award a Magician of the Year title annually, but offhand I don't know of any sleight-of-hand specific competitions. Even if there were, I doubt Ricky would participate, since he's both very well established and not inclined to work entirely within the "magic establishment."

[tidesong.livejournal.com]

Holy. Shit.

That's fucking amazing.

[supremegoddess1.livejournal.com]

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing.